FDA investigating illnesses from McDonald’s salads

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and several states, including North Dakota, have been investigating a cluster of illnesses likely linked to McDonald’s salads.

The CDC reports that 163 people in 10 states have become ill from cyclospora infections after eating McDonald’s salads. Three people have been hospitalized. There have been no deaths reported.

No illnesses have been reported in North Dakota.

The FDA is working with McDonald’s to identify the common ingredients in the salads identified by those who became sick and trace back those ingredients through the supply chain.

McDonald’s has decided to voluntarily stop selling salads at impacted restaurants in 14 states, including North Dakota, until they are able to switch to another salad supplier.

Cyclospora is a type of microscopic parasite. People can become infected by consuming food or water contaminated with the parasite.